Salem, OR — In passing HB 3391 this summer, Oregon’s governor, Kate Brown, and legislative Democrats massively expanded taxpayer-funded abortions. The bill was the self-stated top priority of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. Suspecting financial motives, one of the pro-life members of the Oregon House made a public information request. The resulting information proves that no other entity stands to benefit financially more because of this new law.
Planned Parenthood is a key campaign supporter of Oregon Democrat politicians and it’s paying off. Compared to the 2013-15 biennium, the 2015-17 biennium shows state leaders rewarded Planned Parenthood with even more taxpayer dollars.
Lois Anderson, ORTL executive director, said, “HB 3391 is only the latest effort to funnel dollars to Planned Parenthood. Our Democratic leaders continue to prioritize political paybacks over the lives of unborn children.”
Fact 1: The Oregon Health Plan spent 1.79 times more tax dollars on Planned Parenthood
In the 2013-15 biennium, $11.2 million taxpayer dollars went to PP from OHP.
In the 2015-17 biennium, OHP spent $20.04 million tax dollars on PP.
Fact 2: Planned Parenthood’s market share of state-funded abortions increased 16.31%
In the 2013-15 biennium, there were a total of 7,446 state-funded abortions. 3,600 (48.35%) of those were performed at PP.
In the 2015-17 biennium, there were 8,235 state-funded abortions. 5,325 (64.66%) of those were performed at PP.
Almost two-thirds of all state-funded abortions happen at Planned Parenthood.
Fact 3: In the 2015-17 biennium, OHP spent nearly half a million tax dollars more on abortions at Planned Parenthood
In the 2013-15 biennium, OHP spent $3.66 million tax dollars in state-funded abortions, $900,000 (24.59%) of which was spent at PP.
In the 2015-17 biennium, $4.91 million was spent on abortion procedures, $1.34 million (27.29%) of which went to PP.
For media inquiries or interviews, please contact Liberty Pike, ORTL communications director, at liberty@ortl.org or 971-645-6585.
A couple reactions, context, and food for thought:
Regarding Fact 1: Oregon chose to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Between 2013 and 2016, the number of Oregon citizens covered under Medicaid jumped 1.83x (from 600K to 1.1 million people, according to the OR Medicaid website). That’s even more than the 1.79x taxpayer dollar increase you found. The ACA also made it required for state insurances to cover certain contraceptive services. I think the conclusion from Fact 1 should be that coverage expanded, and many women chose to seek health care at Planned Parenthood.
Regarding Fact 2: You found that tax-payer dollars jumped 1.79x. I found that Medicaid covered 1.83x more people. This data shows a 1.1x jump in state-funded abortions, and a 1.47x jump in PP abortions. So, PP has seen a disproportionate increase in abortions, but it would also appear that increased Medicaid coverage has not seen an associated increase in abortion coverage. Given this information, I want to ask some specific questions to learn more: has the total number of Oregon abortions changed from 2013-2016? Has the total number of abortion providers in the state changed in that time frame? If, for example, other places that offered abortions closed, then I would conclude that an increase in PP abortions seems… logical.
As I’m sure you must also feel, my heart goes out to these women. Why are they in positions where they seek abortion? Do they or their partners not have access to contraception or education to prevent unwanted pregnancy?
Regarding Fact 3: I’m curious about the conclusions you’ve drawn from this information. $900K to PP for 3600 abortions is $250 per abortion. $1.34M for 5325 abortions is also $250 per abortion. So all you’ve noted here is that OHP is paying for more abortion at the same rate as they were before. A quick google search found that a Portland clinic (NOT Planned Parenthood) offering abortions charges $520 for the service. I have no idea how much it would cost one of these places to administer an abortion, but it seems likely that PP is losing money to provide abortions when the service is covered by OHP… pretty crazy.
Hi Rebecca!
Thanks for the comment. Our position on these issues really boils down to this: Planned Parenthood should receive no government funding as long as it is their business to fund more abortions. Our press release shows that the priority of the Democrats running this state is to continue to increase how much money they pay out to Planned Parenthood, for abortions as well as other services. The state could be putting this money into other clinics that provide health services to women without also killing babies.
David, ORTL Political Director
this is awful. oregon health plan should not pay for abortions and also planned parenthood should get no government funding what so ever. I think its time the government funds community health centers that dont do abortions and have more funding for mental health.
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